As the Chinese auto market continues to flourish, several automakers including Lotus are competing for the spotlight at the Beijing Motor Show. The British automaker took the wraps off a new model specially prepared for the Chinese market, the Evora GTE China Limited Edition, but reports are also suggesting the company itself may be looking for a Chinese buyer.

The Evora GTE special edition is tailored to Chinese customers. Lotus says the special GTE's suspension has been tuned to better suit the roads in China, while the car's interior has been fully decked out with more leather and carbon fiber bits for a more upscale feel. Because only 118 examples will be made, each limited edition car will also wear a numbered plaque inside. Under the hood is a 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 that cranks out 444 hp.At the Beijing show, the British automaker is announcing the Lotus China Racing Club, which is claimed to be the first of its kind in China. Members would benefit from track days, performance and race driving instruction, race car rental, and access to Lotus events.

Lotus' offerings to the Chinese don't stop there. Malaysia-based owner DRB-Hicom is seeking a Chinese buyer, Autocar reports. The announcement was made during a UK government meeting to discuss Lotus' future and to voice concern over what a change of ownership could bring. Lotus CEO Dany Bahar has been flying under the radar since Malaysian trading regulations caused a temporary halt in production. Bahar made clear the shaky relationship with DRB-Hicom at the Geneva show, noting: “This difficult period for Lotus finishes at the end of March and that’s when we will know then whether DRB-Hicom will want to continue with our business plan."While Lotus' long-term future remains uncertain, it likely won't take long for the company to sell out of its special-edition Evora GTEs.Source: Lotus, Autocar